Vladikavkaz, Russia

Capital City

With a population of just 315,600, Vladikavkaz is one of the largest cities in the Russian-controlled Caucasus region. However, the reality for residents is a persistent headache of bureaucracy and a continental climate that swings between warm, wet summers and bitterly cold, dry winters. The city serves as an important industrial and transportation hub, with manufacturing of goods like processed zinc, lead, and machinery. But its history has also been marked by conflict, with the city changing hands during the Russian Civil War and World War II. For those drawn to the rugged Caucasus landscape, Vladikavkaz may offer opportunity, but the daily grind of living in this regional capital is not for the faint of heart.